Ain't No River

Rating:
Summary: Redeeming, Uplifting, and Full of Fun
Review: Ain't No River was my first venture into contemporary Christian fiction and author Sharon Ewell Foster has made me a believer in the genre. Rarely does a work of fiction feature so many well-developed, realistic characters. Author Sharon Ewell Foster has done this and seemingly with ease. The story features Garvin, a high-powered attorney from Washington D.C., who makes her way back home after being temporarily "laid off" from her firm. Home is a small town in North Carolina that seems a million miles away from the fast-paced world she knows. However, the attorney quickly sets down to business when she feels that her beloved 70-something Meemaw is running wild with proven ladies man, young GoGo Walker. A host of other well-developed characters add to the drama.

This uplifting story about redemption and remembering who we are is bound to bless any and all readers. However, readers will not feel that they are being preached to throughout the story. The method is much more subtle until perhaps the very end. Rarely does a work of fiction contain such a fine plot, such a wonderful host of characters, and so much fun. Foster's humor and sense of fun are unmistakable and would make the story one worth reading if other elements were not as strong. However, the author has integrated the finest elements of fiction along with this humor and has proven herself a voice to be reckoned with in contemporary fiction.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining book with a godly message!
Review: Garvin Daniels receives a mysterious phone call concerning her grandmother and the much-younger man she has been seen around town with. She immediately goes home to North Carolina to put a stop to the madness and get her grandmother back on the right path. However, Garvin is the one who is placed back on track when she returns home and finds out the real reason her grandmother is seeing Go-Go. You will enjoy this contemporary work of Christian fiction. The characters and dialogue are realistic (especially the women in the beauty salon), and the storyline is interesting. Most important, however, is the message the authors conveys about the importance of living a godly life in ungodly times. A good read!

Rating:
Summary: Finally a novel full of hope, faith and love.
Review: I am truly thankful that a 'true' Christian and believer has found a way to write a book without compromising. Ms. Foster's writing is so relative I couldn't wait to finish so that I could purchase her other novels. Her characters are people you know and situations you've actually experienced. Finally literature you won't be ashamed of reading while riding on the train to work.

Rating:
Summary: inspiring and refreshing
Review: I had a little difficulty getting through the first few chapters, but I'm glad I kept on. I found Garvin to be an annoying and frustrating character who overreacts to "problems" most people wouldn't even consider problems. She struck me as a whiny, spoiled city-girl, but I think Ms. Foster did a wonderful job portraying her character growth. The story is mainly Garvin's story, about her journey home and spiritual growth along the way. I found Meemaw, Garvin's grandmother, a delightful character that everyone can find inspiring. I really enjoyed watching the relationships between both Garvin and Meemaw and Garvin and Monique (a lonely child she is "mentoring") develop. Parts of the book are very predictable, and there seems to be so many climaxes in Garvin's character that one begins to wonder when, and if, she will ever really "see the light." Besides that, I felt it to be a really refreshing read.

Rating:
Summary: Found some words of wisdom
Review: This Christian novel really gave me food for thought once I got into the story. At first I was not feeling this book, cause Garvin was getting on my last nerve. Once I was able to look beyond her controlling and self righeous ways the reading became more pleasurable. Garvin returns to Jack Creek to wait out an adminstative leave. She is also there to bring her Meemaw to her senses. Meemaw has been spending time with a young man named GoGo and Garvin is not having it. Garvin is also using this time to right the wrongs in everyone elses life but her own.Meemaw, a deeply religious woman insist that everyone in her household go to church on Sunday. Garvin reluctantly attends and finds out somethings about herself. Between the preacher's words and Meemaw lessons, Garvin learns some serious lessons. For that matter, Meemaw teachings could help anyone, even the reader. This turned out to be a very inspirational book, with a lesson to be learned.